Named for a Cherokee word meaning "sweet water,” Waynoka is a western Oklahoma gem. Home of Little Sahara State Park, this area is a great example of Oklahoma’s diverse landscape where visitors are treated to over 1,600 acres of sand dunes ranging from 25 to 75 feet high. Bring your own off-road vehicle or rent one nearby and drive it right to the park. Little Sahara State Park also offers over 200 campsites, picnic facilities and seasonal concessions.
Those looking for a helping of history will find it at the 1910 Harvey House and Santa Fe Depot. This complex houses the Waynoka Air Rail Museum, which is located on the BNSF main line and sees 50 to 100 trains pass by daily. An unexpected eatery in Waynoka, Cafe Bahnhof serves an authentic German feast, featuring schnitzel, bratwurst and all the ice-cold beer you can drink. Be sure to snag a reservation, because this popular Waynoka restaurant fills up fast.
From the first days of mechanical aviation to Wiley Post’s escapades around the globe, Oklahoma played a crucial role in the early evolution of flight. Discover some key moments in the first 25 years of the state's rich aviation history, along with destinations that let you relive this innovative era.
There’s more than meets the eye at Oklahoma State Parks. Historic structures are just some of the wonders waiting to be found.
Nothing signals that the summer heat has finally broken and the beauty of fall is right around the corner quite like the coming of Oktoberfest season. Discover some great places to celebrate this harvest time tradition in Oklahoma!
Want to see the greatest light show on earth? Look to the night sky at one of Oklahoma’s secluded stargazing hotspots. Enjoy awe-inspiring views from the back porch of a resort lodge with all the comforts of home, or take in the show from your backcountry campsite at a state park. Whether you join one of the orchestrated “star parties” in remote corners of the state or strike out on your own stargazing adventure, come to Oklahoma and see the universe in a whole new light.
Spend the day cruising sand dunes in northwest Oklahoma with this guide to the best places to eat, stay and play.
State parks in western Oklahoma feature some of the most unique terrain and landscapes in the state. From deep, ancient caves, to high plateaus made of volcanic rock; mammoth sand dunes to lush lakeside forests, each of these parks have a personality all their own.
